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Working Replica of Noah's Ark
Working Replica of Noah's Ark Opens SCHAGEN, Netherlands -
The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark
was thrown open Saturday
- you could say it was the first time in 4,500 years - drawing a crowd
Of curious pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.
Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch CreationistJohan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
Reckoning by the old biblical measurements, Johan's fully functional ark
Is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras,
bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
"The design is by my wife, Bianca," Huibers said. "She didn't really
want me to do this at all, but she said if you're going to anyway,
it should look like this."
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine ---
Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools
and occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005.
On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening
- will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats
and one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned.
"It's past comprehension," said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened
to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw
the ark looming over the local landscape.
"I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been
so big."
In fact, Noah's Ark as described in the Bible was five times larger
than Johan's Ark.
But that still leaves enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film
Theater, where kids can watch the segment of the
Disney film "Fantasia" that tells the story of Noah.
Another exhibit shows water cascading down on a model of the Ark.
Exhibits on the third level show ancient tools and old-fashioned
Barrels, exotic stuffed animals, and a wax model of an
exhausted Noah reclining on a bed in the forecastle.
Genesis says Noah kept seven pairs of most domesticated animals and
one breeding pair of all other creatures, plus his wife, three sons and
three daughters-in-law together on the boat for almost a year
while the world was deluged.
Perhaps it was only logical that the replica project would be the
brainchild of a Dutchman: fear of floods are ingrained in the country's collective
consciousness by its water-drenched history.
Lois Poppema, visiting from California, said she thought the Netherlands
was exactly the right place for an ark. "Just a few weeks ago we saw Al Gore on television .. Saying that all Holland will be flooded" due to rising sea levels, she said.
"I don't think the man who made this ever expected that global warning
will become (such an important) issue - and suddenly having the ark
would be meaningful in the middle of Holland."
Under sunny clear skies Saturday, Huibers said he wasn't worried about
another biblical flood, since according to Genesis, the rainbow is the
Sign of God's promise never to flood the world again. But he does worry that recent events such as the flooding of New Orleans
could be seen as a portent of the end of time.
Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in
The Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past
50 years. He also plans to visit major cities in Belgium and Germany.
Build an
ark?
In
the year
2007, the
Lord came
unto Noah,
who was now
living in
Canada, and
said, 'Once
again, the
earth has
become
wicked and
over-populated,
and I see
the end of
all flesh
before me.
Build
another Ark
and save two
of every
living thing
along with a
few good
humans. He
gave Noah
the
blueprints,
saying, 'You
have six
months to
build the
Ark before I
will start
the unending
rain for 40
days and 40
nights.'
Six
months
later, the
Lord looked
down and saw
Noah weeping
in his yard
- but no
Ark. 'Noah!'
He roared, 'I'm
about to
start the
rain! Where
is the Ark?'
'Forgive me,
Lord,'
begged Noah,
'but things
have changed.
I needed a
building
permit. I've:
been arguing
with the
inspector
about the
need for a
sprinkler
system. My
neighbours
claim that
I've
violated the
neighbourhood
zoning laws
by building
the Ark in
my yard and
exceeded the
height
limitations.
We had to go
to the
Development
Appeal Board
for a
decision.
Then the
Hydro One
demanded a
bond be
posted for
the future
costs of
moving power
lines and
other
overhead
obstructions,
to clear the
passage for
the Ark's
move to the
sea. I told
them that
the sea
would be
coming to us,
but they
would hear
nothing of
it. Getting
the wood was
another
problem.
There's a
ban on
cutting
local trees
in order to
save the
spotted owl.
I tried to
convince the
environmentalists
that I
needed the
wood to save
the owls -
but no go!
When I
started
gathering
the animals,
an animal
rights group
sued me.
They
insisted
that I was
confining
wild animals
against
their will.
They argued
the
accommodation
was too
restrictive,
and it was
cruel and
inhumane to
put so many
animals in a
confined
space. Then
the Ministry
of the
Environment
ruled that I
couldn't
build the
Ark until
they'd
conducted an
environmental
impact study
on your
proposed
flood. I'm
still trying
to resolve a
complaint
with the
Human Rights
Commission
on how many
minorities
I'm supposed
to hire for
my building
crew.
Immigration
and
Naturalization
are checking
the Visa
status of
most of the
people who
want to
work. The
trades
unions say I
can't use my
sons. They
insist I
have to hire
only Union
workers with
Ark-building
experience.
To make
matters
worse, the
Revenue
Canada
seized all
my assets,
claiming I'm
trying to
leave the
country
illegally
with
endangered
species.
So,
forgive me,
Lord, but it
would take
at least 10
years for me
to finish
this Ark.'
suddenly the
skies
cleared, the
sun began to
shine, and a
rainbow
stretched
across the
sky. Noah
looked up in
wonder and
asked, 'You
mean you're
not going to
destroy the
world?'
'No,' said
the Lord.
'The
government
beat me to
it'
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